Events & Visits

During this academic visit to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, I observed a strong connection between museum learning and design education. The collection offered our students a rich opportunity to explore diverse art forms, historical narratives, and craftsmanship up close. 

Findings from a Design Learning Perspective: The museum environment allowed students to closely examine material culture. They gained insights into how materials and techniques shaped functional and aesthetic outcomes throughout history. Students actively engaged in visual documentation. They sketched, photographed, and noted intricate details, which improved their observation and representation skills. Exhibits provided excellent references for form development, composition, ornamentation, and color palettes. They inspired both product and visual design. The museum’s exhibition design and wayfinding systems helped students understand how storytelling, display strategy, and information graphics improve viewer experience. Students showed increased critical appreciation by analyzing artifacts from cultural, functional, and contextual perspectives. The visit encouraged interdisciplinary connections. It helped students see heritage through the lenses of product design, visual communication, animation, and space design. Exposure to centuries of artistic innovation reinforced the role of research, history, and culture as foundational tools in the design process. 

Purpose: To explore real-world product, interior, and retail design innovations while understanding how thoughtful design meets user needs in everyday living. 

During this academic visit to IKEA, Navi Mumbai, I observed how a global retail environment can serve as a live learning space for design students. The visit exposed students to innovative solutions in product design, user experience, retail communication, and sustainable practices — all integrated seamlessly into everyday living contexts. 

Findings from a Design Learning Perspective:

Real-world Product Design Understanding : Students explored how IKEA products are designed on human-centric principles, such as a focus on ergonomics, modularity, affordability, and ease of assembly. This experience helped them analyze the relationship between user needs and product function.

Material Exploration & Sustainable Thinking : Through the study of furniture made from engineered wood, recycled materials, and eco-friendly finishes, the students were taught how sustainability inspires both materials selection and product life-cycle considerations.

Spatial Planning & Interior Layout : IKEA's organized, walkthrough-style layout demonstrated effective spatial zoning and efficient use of compact spaces. This was an observation of how design can transform small living areas into functional and aesthetic ones. 

Information, Branding & Visual Communication: This store's signage, product information tags, display hierarchy, and colour-coded wayfinding all combined to provide a strong example of how visual communication enhances customer navigation and decision-making. 

Flat-Pack Innovation & Packaging: Design Students understood how smart packaging reduces cost, supports logistics, and improves user experience-offering great insight into packaging and product interface design. 

User Research & Lifestyle Context: Fully equipped mock-up rooms demonstrate how design is inspired by real family habits, cultural contexts, and urban constraints — reinforcing the role of observation and behavioral insights in design.